US6974343B2 - SIM card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical card connector (100) includes a base (1), a cover (2) and a pivot (3) for pivotally connecting the cover with the base. The base includes an insulative housing (11) and a number of conductive terminals received in the housing. The cover includes a top cover (21) and a bottom cover (22) defining a receptacle (20) for receiving a card (4). The cover defines a cutout (25) on the bottom cover facing to an upper surface of the base and has latching mechanism (26) extending from opposite sides of the cutout for latching with the base and for hold the cover in a locked position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an electrical card connector, and more particularly, to a card connector used in a portable electronic device for connecting an electrical card to a printed circuit board of the portable electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

As electronics technology advances, electronic cards are being more widely used with electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, notebooks, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Electronic card connectors for electronic memory cards, such as smart cards and subscriber identification modular (SIMs), are well known in communications industries. U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,868 discloses a card connector including a base and a removable and separate cover dimensioned to receive a card. The base has a plurality of flanges extending outwardly at opposite side walls thereof and each defining a downwardly step clamping surface. The cover comprises a plurality of dampers at opposite sides thereof and each projecting a boss defining an upwardly facing surface. The cover having the card therein is off-set downwardly with respect to the base during a closed position of assembly with the flanges are positioned beside respective clampers. As the cover is translated to a locked position, the cover with an inserted card are rearwardly moved relatively to the base and the facing surfaces of the dampers interferentially fit with the clamping surfaces of the base and become latched with the base. A protrusion extends upwardly from front portion of the base and has a card stop surface preventing a front movement of the inserted card. A cantilevered beam extends downwardly from a top cover for providing frictional force on the inserted card and for strengthening the connection between the inserted card and the card connector when the card is fully inserted into the card connector.

With the ever-increasing miniaturization of the electrical card and corresponding connector, various problems continue to arise. For instance, when the card is inserted into and removed from the card-receiving cavity or receptacle or other means of the connector, the proper position of the card in the connector and the proper engagement with the terminals present problems. In addition, in assembly, the dampers of the cover and the flanges of the base bias the cover and the base together, the cover requires amount vertical space above upper surface of the base to assemble to the base. Moreover the protrusion positions at front portion of the base resulting a sizeable base corresponding to the cover. It is often increases the overall dimensions of the assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an electrical card connector that alleviates some of the problems associated with the prior art. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical card connector having a compact structure for securely and precisely connecting with an inserted card.

An electrical card connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a cover and hinging means for pivotally connecting the cover with the base. The base includes an insulative housing and a plurality of resilient conductive terminals received in the housing. The cover includes a top cover, a bottom cover and opposite lateral plates. The cover defines a cutout on the bottom cover facing to an upper surface of the base and has resilient latching means on opposite sides of the cutout for latching with the base to hold the cover in a locked position. The opposite lateral plates include cooperating locking sections operable upon full assembly defining a receptacle for receiving a card. A rib is downwardly formed on the top cover and adjacent to the receptacle. The contact terminals project upwardly into the receptacle through the cutout to secure reading of an inserted card and cooperate with the rib for preventing a front movement of the inserted card.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical card connector according to the present invention, but with a card received therein;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the electrical card connector ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base of the electrical card connector according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an upside-down view ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explode view ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline8—8 ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1–4, anelectrical connector100 in accordance with the present invention comprises abase1, acover2 and apivot3 for pivotally connecting thecover2 with thebase1.

Referring toFIGS. 5–8, thebase1 includes a substantially rectangularinsulative housing11, a plurality of conductive terminals received in thehousing11 and a pair ofengaging sheets15. Thehousing11 includes anupper surface110, alower surface111,opposite side walls112 and arear wall113. Thehousing11 defines a plurality of throughholes114 through the upper andlower surfaces110,111 adjacent to the opposite side walls and defines a pair ofengaging slots115 at middle thereof. Thehousing11 includes atop step1141 inwardly and radially projecting into a top portion of each throughhole114. Thehousing11 defines a recess communicating with a bottom portion of each throughhole114. The recess has the same axis as each throughhole114 and has a diameter larger than that of each throughhole114, thereby forming a bottom step1143 in the bottom portion of the each throughhole114. Thehousing11 has a plurality of pairs ofparallel fixing slots116 through the upper andlower surfaces110,111 and each pair offixing slots116 are position at opposite sides of each throughhole114. Eachside wall112 forms an outwardly projectingprotrusion1120 and defines aconcaved snapping slot1121 beneath theprotrusion1120. A pair ofhook portions1131 extend rearwardly and upwardly from opposite side portions of therear wall113 and eachhook portion1131 defines an upwardly exposedcylindrical groove1130.

The conductive terminals are received in the throughholes114 of thehousing11 and each comprises acontact terminal12, aspring13 and afixing terminal14. Eachcontact terminal12 includes asleeve body section121 and aconvex contact section124 covering at a top end of thebody section121 for contacting with circuit traces of an insertedcard4. Thebody section121 and theconvex contact section124 define a downwardly exposedrecess123. Amounting flange122 extends perpendicularly and outwardly from a lower periphery of thebody section121 and cooperates with thetop step1141 of thehousing11.

Thefixing terminal14 includes abase portion141 and a pair of symmetricalfixing arms142 extending upwardly from thebase portion141. Thebase portion141 has a substantially cap-shaped configuration and defines an upwardly exposedhollow space143 for abutting against a lower end of thespring13. Thebase portion141 has a bottom solder nod (not labeled) for soldering to a printed circuit board (PCB, not shown). Eachfixing arm142 has an outwardly projectingtuber144 formed thereon for cooperating with thefixing slots116 of thehousing11.

Thespring13 is received in the throughhole114 of thehousing11. The lower end of thespring13 abuts against thehollow space143 and the upper end of thespring13 extends into therecess123 abutting against an inner surface of theconvex contact section124.

Eachengaging sheet15 includes a verticalengaging portion151 latching in theengaging slot115 of thehousing11 and asolder portion152 perpendicularly and inwardly extending from a lower end of theengaging portion151 for soldering to the PCB.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, thecover2 includes atop cover21, abottom cover22 and arear cover23 extending between rear edges of thetop cover21 and thebottom cover22. Thetop cover21 comprises a pair of downwardly extending lateral plates. A pair of lockingbards211 extend outwardly and perpendularly from front portions of bottom edges of corresponding lateral plates. Thebottom cover22 comprises a pair of upwardly extending side plates to abut against inner surfaces of the downwardly extending lateral plates of the lock bards211. A pair ofhooks221 extend from front edges of corresponding side plates of thebottom cover22 for abutting against outer surfaces of the corresponding lateral plates of thetop cover21. The lockingbards211 cooperate with thehooks221 so as to mount thetop cover21 and thebottom cover22 together, thereby defining areceptacle20 for receiving thecard4 between thetop cover21 and thebottom cover22. The height of thereceptacle20 is higher than the thickness of thecard4. Afront nose portion24 extends forwardly from a front edge of thetop cover21. Anelongate rib241 is downwardly formed on thefront nose portion24 and is parallel to therear cover23. Therib241 is position in front of thereceptacle20 and has a leadingsurface2410 for leading thecard4 into thereceptacle20. Thebottom cover22 has acutout25 through a rear portion thereof and a pair of resilient latchingarms26 extending downwardly and inwardly to each other from the opposite brims of thecutout25. The latchingarm26 includes a middleconcave portion261 projecting downwardly and an inwardly projecting snappingportion262 on a distal free end thereof for securely grasping thebase1 therebetween. Thecover2 has a pair ofblades27 extending perpendicularly and downwardly from thebottom cover2. Eachblade27 is adjacent to acorresponding latching arm26 and has apinhole271 for cooperating with an end of thepivot3. Thecover2 defines a pair ofconcave peripheries28 ontop cover21 and bottom cover22 for facilitating in extracting the insertedcard4.

Thepivot3 has a substantially cylinder-shaped configuration. Thepivot3 is assembled in thepinholes271 and engages with thecylindrical grooves1130 of thehook portions1131 of thehousing1, whereby thecover2 is pivotally mounted on thebase1 and can pivotally move toward and away of thebase1.

In assembly, thecontact terminals12 are installed into the throughholes114 of thehousing11 from thelower surface111 of thehousing11. Thebody section121 and theconvex contact section124 of eachcontact terminal12 projects beyond theupper surface110 of thehousing11. The mountingflanges122 of thecontact terminals12 engage with thetop steps1141 of corresponding throughholes114. Thesprings13 are received in the throughholes114 of thehousing11 and the upper end of eachspring13 extends into therecess123 of thecontact terminal12. The fixingterminals14 are fixed to thebottom steps1142 of the though holes114 from thelower surface111 of thehousing11. The fixingarms142 of the fixingterminals14 are inserted into the fixingslots116 of thehousing11 with thetubers144 abutting against the inner surfaces of the fixingslots116, thereby fixing the fixingterminals14 to thehousing11. Then in assembly of thecover2 to thebase1, thepivot3 engages with thecylindrical grooves1130 and seats into thepinholes271 of theblades27 of thebottom cover22. The snappingportions262 of the latchingarms26 snap corresponding snappingslots1121 and theconcave portions261 engage with theprotrusions1120 of thehousing11, thereby securely retaining thebase1 therebetween.

In using, thetop cover21 is pivotally lifted away thebase1 and thecard4 is inserted into thereceptacle20 of thecover2. Then, thetop cover21 is downwardly pressed to thebase1 and the latchingarms26 retain thebase1 therebetween. Thecard4 exerts a downwardly depressing force on thecontact terminals12. At the same time, thecard4 gets an upward counterforce from thedepressed contact terminal12 and thespring13 and is upwardly pushed to abut against thetop cover21. Thecard4 is retained by thetop cover21 and depresses thecontact terminal12 and thespring13 so that cannot move in top-and-bottom directions. Meanwhile a front edge of thecard4 is retained by therib231 of thetop cover21 and arear cover23 so that cannot move in front-and-rear directions, thereby securely retaining thecard4 in thereceptacle20. When thecover2 pivots away thebase1, the latchingarms26 disengage from thebase1. Thecard4 separates with thedepressed contact terminals12 and is free from the upwardly counterforce from thecontact terminals12 and thesprings13. Thecard4 falls on inner surface of thebottom cover22 and is simultaneously relaxed to therib231 of thetop cover21. In such a free state, thecard4 can be easily extracted from thereceptacle20 along the inner surface of thebottom cover22 easily.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (11)

1. An electrical card connector adapted for being mounted on a printed circuit board for an inserted card, comprising:

a base including an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals received in the housing, the terminals can being resiliently moveable upwardly and downwardly in the housing;

a cover including a top cover and a bottom cover and defining a receptacle between the top and bottom covers for receiving the card, the cover defining a cutout on the bottom cover and having latching mechanism on opposite sides of the cutout for latching with the base; and

a pivot for pivotally connecting the base with the cover between a closed position where the cover is located adjacent to the base and a locked position where the cover and the base are locked with each other.

2. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the base has opposite side walls and each forms an outwardly projecting protrusion and defines a snapping slot beneath the protrusion, and wherein the latching mechanism includes a middle concave portion for engaging with the protrusion and a snapping portion on a distal end thereof for biasing against the snapping slot.

3. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the base has a plurality of through holes at side portions thereof for receiving the terminals.

4. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the terminal includes a top contact terminal normally upwardly projecting beyond the housing, a bottom fixing terminal for being fixed on the printed circuit board and a spring positioned between the contact terminal and the fixing terminal.

5. The electrical card connector according toclaim 4, wherein the top cover forms a rib adjacent to the receptacle, the contact terminals projecting upwardly into the receptacle through the cutout cooperating with the rib for preventing the inserted card from movement.

6. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the top cover has a pair of downwardly extending lateral plates and the bottom cover has a pair of upwardly extending lateral plates, the lateral plates including cooperating locking sections engaging with each other upon full assembly.

7. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the cover defines a pair of concave peripheries on top and bottom covers for facilitating in extracting the inserted card.

8. The electrical card connector according toclaim 1, wherein the cover has means for mounting the pivot and for pivotally cooperating with the base.

9. An electrical card connector adapted for being mounted on a printed circuit board for an inserted card, comprising:

a base including an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals received in the housing, each of the terminals defining a contacting tip exposed above an upper face of the housing;

a cover including a top cover and a bottom cover and defining a receptacle between the top and bottom covers for receiving the card, the cover defining a cutout on the bottom cover and having latching mechanism adjacent to the cutout for latching with the base; and

the cover being pivotally assembled to the housing, said cover defining at least a closed position where the cover is located adjacent to the base and a locked position where the cover and the base are locked with each other by said latching mechanism.

10. The electrical card connector according toclaim 9, wherein the top cover is essentially a complete piece for vertically completely shielding the inserted card.

11. The electrical card connector according toclaim 9, wherein said latching mechanism is located around a middle portion of the cover while an operation nose portion of the cover is located around a free end area of the cover, opposite to a pivotal area of the cover.

Images